Tampering charges added for already suspended Kunyuga

Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has added tampering charges for the already provisionally suspended Michael Kunyuga Njenga.

The 36-year-old was suspended last year in August for the Presence/Use of a Prohibited Substance (norandrosterone) which is a breach of the World Athletics Anti-Doping Rules.

Norandrosterone is a substance that helps users quickly build their muscle strength and mass as well as speed up their recovery process from an injury.

Kunyuga, who last year placed second at the Rimi Riga Marathon held on 15 May 2022, after clocking 2:12:44, holds a personal best time of 2:06:43 that he achieved at the 2020 Zurich Marathón where he finished in position five.

At the time of the provisional suspension, AIU quick to clarify that the athlete was presumed innocent until proven guilty as investigations continue.

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“A provisional suspension imposed in a non-doping case does not in any way abrogate the presumption of innocence and it is not an early determination of guilt. Rather, it is an order made on a precautionary basis to safeguard the interests of the sport,” the agency said.

The athlete is remembered for his unorthodox finish at the Hannover Marathon in 2018. As Kunyaga ran down the home straight, and with the finish line meters away, all of sudden he collapsed to the ground.

Not giving up and with compatriot Duncan Koech chasing him down, he instinctively crawled his way to clinch second place – barely managing to hold off Koech. His determination was rewarded with what was a personal best time then of 2:10:16.

Kunyuga adds to Kenya’s growing list of suspended athletes, this development coming to light just days after AIU brought down the hammer on Charles Karanja Kamau for the Presence/Use of a Prohibited Substance (Testosterone) contrary to Article 2.1 and Article 2.2.

Kenya is still in Category A of the World Anti-Doping Agency as one of the six countries where doping is prevalent. The other countries are Ethiopia, Morocco, Nigeria, Bahrain, Belarus.